Christmas

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!! I sure did. Other than I didn't get to spend it with Rayce. But I spent it with my mom and sister which is very important to me. 

I got on a plane Monday morning, which was also my 25th birthday, and was on my way to my happy place...North Carolina!! 

 Never too old for funfetti!!

My sister and her boyfriend (who was home from Navy OCS (officer candidate school) came over to my mom's house with my favorite pizza from Mellow Mushroom which they don't have in Iowa. It was glorious. Then we ate Strawberry Funfetti cake...my fav. 

Christmas Eve we got pedicures and I did a little last minute shopping at Target. We were invited to my sister's boyfriend's family's house that night so we went there for awhile and met his family and socialized for a bit. Then we came home and made a breakfast casserole for Christmas morning and I made those Ritz cracker things where you put a Rolo in the middle. They are so damn good.

Christmas morning my sister woke us up at 6:50 A.M. to open presents. Ugh. Santa did good. I got some really great stuff. 

My mama with her new birdhouse and necklace

We lounged around for awhile and then got ready to go to my Aunt and Uncle's house.We had great food, great family, and great fun (Scattergories!)

 I just think this is the cutest. My cousin Bryan and his daughter Lyli

Aunt and cousins

Today we went to lunch with my sister and her boyfriend and his family because he had to go back to Rhode Island for OCS. You could tell how sad they were and it was making me sad too...I don't want my sissy to be sad.

 I don't really have much else planned for my time here in NC. Just spending time with my family. I don't ever want to leave!

Eyes

Welcome to day 24 of The Thankful Project! If you're just joining us, you can find out more about the project here. Today's prompt is "a physical trait you have."

 

I don't know about you...but it's hard for me to come up with things I like about my appearance. Sure, I'm a pretty average looking female...I probably shouldn't complain as much as I do. But hey, it happens. So if I had to choose one thing about my physical appearance that I like I would choose my eyes.

 

 

 

My eyes are what I get the most comments on...since high school anyway when all people (guys) commented on were my huge boobs. Luckily the boob thing isn't that big of an issue anymore :)

 



Mountains

I'm thankful that I've seen the Appalachian Mountains. My solo drive from Iowa, my home for 22 years to North Carolina was amazing. I'm glad I drove by myself. I saw the mountains for the first time and I stopped whenever I felt like it just do stare off into them. Rolling hills and mountains and trees for miles and miles. I couldn't believe it. It was breathtaking. These pictures don't do it justice.

 

 

And today I was invited to Breckenridge in December by my best friend and her husband!! I'm so excited to see the Rockies!



Another edition of the boy behind my blog!

Ok so this is my third post today...what the shit is happening? Is that a blogging no-no? Whatever, I do what I want!
 

Another edition of Boys Behind the Blog!! Thanks Mal and Stephanie for this awesome link up! 

 

1. Who is your favorite band/musician?

The Devil Wears Prada and James Taylor...two opposite ends of the spectrum. (We both like lots of different music...it's pretty great)

(I could listen to James for the rest of my life...something about his music is just does wonders for me)

 

2. What was your first CD/tape?

Limp Bizkit

 

3. Who was your first concert?

Sadly, Rascal Flatts

 

4. What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?

Cheesy mashed potatoes

 

5. Finish the sentence: I am thankful for...

Internal combustion engines...(really??)

 

Advocare 10 day cleanse

I jumped on the bandwagon. I've been reading about this cleanse on some blogs that I love so I decided to try it out. I didn't think it would be very hard for me because I eat pretty clean anyway. Sure I was sad about cutting bread and crackers. I love my carbs! But other than that I wasn't worried. I was pretty scared of the fiber drink, though! So here is a day by day of how I felt during the cleanse.

 

Monday- First day, easy peasy. The fiber drink is just thick. I mixed it with OJ and it tasted fine. I felt great other than my stomach feeling a bit rumbly all day. But then in the evening my monthly friend came to visit, so that could be why. I ate a small bowl of Mini Wheats (probably not supposed to but whatever) along with the fiber drink. Strawberries and grapes for morning snack. A big delicious salad for lunch. A serving of cashews and raw carrots and my protein shake for afternoon snack. And pork chops, half a sweet potato and asparagus for dinner. I ran great at the gym. Successful day!


Tuesday- Another good day. I ate everything the same as yesterday except for dinner (good thing I'm not easy to please). Tonight we had baked chicken, sweet potatoes, and broccoli. Lean meat, oranges, and greens...how can you go wrong?! I felt good again today. I wanted sugar a couple times today, probably because there is a huge tub of leftover Halloween candy in my room at work that I have to walk past 235 times a day. But I didn't have any!

Wednesday- Same. Good.

Thursday- Had some serious cravings today. I was tempted with homemade pumpkin bars, Doritos, and M&M's at work but I didn't have any of it! One of my co-workers was on my last nerve today and I was so irritated and I just really really wanted Starbucks when I got off work. I literally sat in my car for 10 minutes deciding whether or not to cheat and get some. I didn't. Go me!!

Friday and Saturday- I really wanted to get a Monster. But I didn't. I went to dinner at Olive Garden with some girlfriends and wanted nothing more than a giant plate of pasta but I got grilled chicken and risotto instead (under 575 calories...bonus!) And stuck with drinking only water.

Sunday- I caved and got a Monster. Oh well.

Monday, Tuesay, Wednesday- Fine. I wasn't as careful Wednesday...I was sort of over it. I eat healthy all the time so I just let myself have a couple Starbursts without beating myself up about it. Glad to be done.

All in all...I probably won't do it again. I didn't really see or feel any different. I lost about 2 pounds. It was ok but I thought I'd be able to feel more energized or something and I didn't. Meh.


Things

I take a lot of things for granted. I think we all do. Not on purpose...we just don't stop daily and think of all the things that make our lives easier. At least I don't. I get up, get ready, eat breakfast, go to work, feed, change, and play with about 12 tiny humans every day, go to the gym, eat dinner, watch tv, go to bed. So this is my list of things that I love in my life that I don't think about loving enough.

 

My bed

My pillows and blankets

My iphone

My toothbrush

Makeup

Clothes

Shoes

Food

My job

Tiny baby feet

Tiny baby smiles

Tiny baby snuggles

Tiny baby giggles

Diapers

My health

My body and the fact that it works

Water

My computer/internet/blogs

My recliner

Remote controls
Washing machine/dryer
Nail polish
Hair ties
My laptop
My car

Ok I have to stop. This could go on for days. Basically...I'm very blessed with all the things I'm even able to take for granted.
 

 

 

 



He's pretty freaking great

I'm a lucky girl to have Rayce in my life. There are so many things about him I'm thankful for I could never name them all. I've never had anyone be so good to me before. He puts me first, always. He makes decisions with my interest in mind. He encourages me when I'm having a hard time. He scratches my head when I'm falling asleep. He kisses me when he leaves me and when he comes back. He does dishes and laundry as much as I do. He makes me feel comfortable. He tries new things with/for me. He hugs me just right. He talks in weird voices with me. He chose to be healthy with me. He makes me excited to come home from work because I missed him all day. I'm so thankful.

 

 



The Thankful Project...a little late

Ok so I just came across this thing called the Thankful Project. You can read about it and find the prompts here. I probably won't do this everyday but we'll see. I also might do the ones I missed when November is over. Who knows! Anyways...

 

November 18 - A choice

 

I've sure made a lot of really stupid choices in my life...but there are also countless choices that I'm thankful for!

 

I'm thankful that I quit smoking

 

I'm thankful I dated some real douchebags. And broke up with them. I learned lots of lessons from those choices.

 

I'm thankful I went to college at the University of Northern Iowa where I met some of my very best friends.

 

 

I'm thankful I moved to North Carolina

 

I'm thankful I started working out and being healthy

 

 We make so many choices every day...I'm going to try my best to make good decisions that I can be thankful for!



The Boy Behind the Blog

 

Round #5 Questions:
 

1. Describe yourself in 5 words.

Content. Hard worker. Caring. Automotive enthusiast.
(Six words...whoopsie) 

 

2. What is your biggest fear?

Failing.

 

3. What is your favorite candy?

Tootsie Rolls

 

4. What was the best Halloween costume you've ever worn? (include pictures if you have them)

Al Borlan from Home Improvement when I was small.

 

5. Who is your favorite football team?

He started saying something from the show Blue Mountain State. Something like "No teams! One team! No...no teams!" I have no idea?? Basically he doesn't give a shit about football.

Weigh in Wednesday

So it's been a hot minute since I've done a Weigh in Wednesday. I've been stressed and thinking about a big decision I have to make and haven't really felt like blogging. So if you think about it...send prayers and/or good thoughts my way!!

 

I have a non scale victory to share! I went down a size in jeans! And they're even too big!! Rayce and I were browsing around the mall a couple weekends ago and I tried on jeans not expecting to buy any. But...I found a pair of skinny jeans (and this new shirt) and they're a size smaller! Wooo hoo!!! I'll take it!

 

 

 

I've been doing couch to 5k and it's effing hard. I started out at week 3 and now I'm on week 5 which is run 9 minutes walk 2 and I swear I almost died tonight. It's seriously the worst feeling while I'm running. I just get so hot and overheated. Mostly my face. It gets bright red and just so.f'ing.hot. I feel like I'm on fire. It's awful. But I feel really glad that I did it when I'm done. I try really hard to stay positive mentally but it's hard. I don't know how I'll be able to run 15 minutes then 30 minutes when running 9 is so hard. But... hopefully I can do it!!

 

I still get really frustrated because some days I just feel really shitty. Like I'm not seeing the progress and the results I feel like I should have by now. Other days I feel really good and think I can see progress. The days are so different!

 

Loving my new work out tank from Target! So cute!

 

On another note...shout out to my wonderful boyfriend because it's his 26th birthday today!!

 

 

Posing with some of his new stuff! Last year for his birthday I got him a 12 pack of Mt. Dew and a box of Cosmic Brownies...that's the life we were living a year ago. This year I got him a Men's Health magazine, a protein funnel, and Fish Oil. Oh how times have changed!

 What a stud.



 

 

My Friday night

 

Tonight Rayce and I are hanging out with this little lady. I work with her mom and said that her and her hubby should go on a hot date...so I get to hang out with my girl, Ellie! At 24 I'd rather be watching movies and babysitting than going out and drinking. Is that normal?

 

 

 

I'm gonna go snuggle her now :) (If Rayce quits hogging her!)

The one about comfort

Friday, September 20: React to this term: comfort. 

 

Umm, well...before I tell you my reaction to this word let me tell you that I am indeed almost 25 years old. But comfort to me...is my mom.

 

 

My mom is the best. My whole life she's always been my source of comfort. I don't care if I'm 24 years old. I still want my mommy when I'm sick. If I'm stressed or need to talk about something she's the first person I call. She was and still is the nurturing type...love her! I'll never not need my mom!



Boy behind the blog!

I love this link up! Pretty sure Rayce secretly does to. He never objects to answering a few questions for me :)

1. If you were an animal, what animal would you be?
I like turtles but turtles aren't very cool. I'll be a turtle.

 2. What is your favorite meal?
Cheesy mashed potatoes, fried chicken, corn

 3. Do you use any forms of Social Media? What is your favorite?
Facebook

 4. Beer, wine, liquor, other, or none of the above?
Liquor...jager

 5. Complete the sentence: "Never have I ever..."
Gone skydiving

 

 

The one about the memory

Tuesday, September 17: A memory you would love to relive.

 

This guy.

 

Every single memory I have of him and with him I wish I could relive. Even the bad ones because it would mean I could just be with him again.

 

The first memory I thought of when I read this prompt was a random summer night. We were 19 or 20. It was the middle of the night and Brian came over to my house and we just sat on my deck and talked. I don't remember what we talked about. I just remember sitting there being so content and it being such a peaceful night. We talked and then would have to be quiet every time a train went by because I lived close to the tracks.

 

The time we drove to Davenport and danced the whole way there to the Jane Fonda song that we were obsessed with at the time.

 

All the times we sat around bonfires smoking cigarettes and drinking cheap beer.

 

Being at his house playing with his dog, Tanner.

 

The night after the Homecoming dance when we laid outside his house on the sidewalk and had our first kiss.

 

Playing Guitar Hero in Austin's tiny apartment.

 

All the American Government classes together where we would write notes back and forth and flirt with each other.

 

Organizing random softball games with our friends.

 

Being the girl that got to wear his jersey to the state basketball game senior year.

 

His laugh...oh his laugh. It was the best.

 

 

I miss you every day.

Liebster Award whaaat?!

So I got a comment from Samantha telling me that she nominated me for the Liebster Award!! I've seen these things floating around blog land but I never thought I would get nominated. How exciting!

Here are the rules:

If nominated, you need to post a blog post with the following:

1. Accepting the award.

2. Answering the questions set by the blogger who nominated you (and comment on your nominator's page so they can read your answers).

3. Nominate 11 other bloggers (try to avoid repeats) for the award. And comment on their blog so they know they are nominated (and remember to link the rules).

4. Set 11 questions of your own for your nominees to answer.

5. Place the Liebster Badge on your post.

 

 

 My Questions from Samantha:

1.Say you had to name a baby girl and boy right now, what would you name them?
Oh my...this is so hard. I'm the most indecisive person you'll ever meet. I don't know how I'll ever narrow name down to just one. If I had to choose right this very second I'd choose Nora and Jack.

2.What fast food restaurant is your weakness?

I don't really eat fast food. It makes me feel gross. But if it didn't make me fat and broke I'd eat it everyday! I can mow down a crunchwrap supreme from Taco Bell like it's my job. I also love the famous bowl from KFC.

 

3.What is your favorite thing to bake?

I've recently come across a recipe for banana bread that I'm obsessed with. I'm also going to be making these again soon. So good!

 

4.Name 2 blogs you love to read on a daily basis?

Mama Laughlin and Skinny Meg! I love getting tips and work outs and recipes from them...they're amazing!

 

5.Favorite app on your phone?

Facebook and Instagram

 

6.Middle name?

Maureen

 

7.What is the greatest vacation you have ever been on?

Spring Break 2010 with my best friends (we don't even hardly talk anymore...so sad)

 

 

 

 

8.Favorite childhood toy?

Hmm...I don't really remember specific toys other than dolls and barbies. My sister and I each had two American Girl dolls that we loved playing with.

 

9.Lake or Ocean?

I'd take either but I really love the ocean. It's so calming to just sit and listen to the waves. Ahh I love it.

 

10.Have you ever been to Michigan? (had to ask since it is my home!)

When I was little. My aunt and uncle used to live there.

 

11.Can you play an instrument? 

Nope. I wish I could!

 

 

 

And the nominees are......

Believe in the Sparks

Diary of an Angry Pregnant Lady

Eat. Pray. WOD.

farmer and the bell

Life: Oceanside

Lobster Love Fest

The Middle of the Street

The Party Girls Guide

With Love and Heartness

This is My Real Hair

Monica's Notebook

 

 

My Questions:

1.If you could relive any period in your life, when would it be?

2.Favorite restaurant?

3.What's your favorite dish to cook? Maybe even give the recipe?!

4.Favorite reality show?

5.If you could have any puppy what kind would you get?

6.What's one life goal that you have? One you've already reached or one you're working on.

7.How did you meet your best friend?

8. How do you relieve stress?

9.How many siblings do you have? Where are you in the birth order?

10.Can you speak another language?

11.What is your go to shopping store?

Enjoy! Make sure to comment back with the link to your answers if you participate :)

The one about my personality

Monday, September 9: Take this short personality test and respond to your results. (at the end, find the detailed profile of your personality account - click "click to view" under "You" and "self awareness and personal growth." You can even google your type and find more info on it!)

 

I am ISFJ.

Introvert(44%)  Sensing(12%)  Feeling(25%)  Judging(39%)

• You have moderate preference of Introversion over Extraversion (44%)
• You have slight preference of Sensing over Intuition (12%)
• You have moderate preference of Feeling over Thinking (25%)
• You have moderate preference of Judging over Perceiving (39%)

Desire to serve others...need to be needed. Yep. That's pretty accurate. I guess that's why I was the friend everyone called in high school when my friends got drunk and stranded somewhere. They'd call me because they knew I didn't want them drinking and driving and that I would come pick them up. Also explains why I chose social work as my major in college. Even though I don't know if I even want to do that anymore...sigh.

 

Family is the center of ISFJ's lives. I'd rather be a stay at home mom (when the time comes) than be a career mom. Accurate.

 

They have a few close friends. Accurate.

 

Basically...this test is spot on for me.

The one where I'm afraid

Friday, September 6: A story about a time you were very afraid.

 

I knew right away what I was going to talk about for today. My relationship. I'm afraid of my relationship not working out. It's terrifying. And it pretty much consumes me every single day.

 

It's complicated. Because Rayce is amazing and we have a really great relationship. The best. But...I'm not happy where we live, in Iowa. I want more than anything to move back to North Carolina where I lived a couple years ago. Rayce doesn't. He wants to stay in Iowa. I just really can't see myself living in Iowa for the rest of my life. That thought makes me so sad. My mom and sister, the two people closest to me in the world live in NC and Rayce's family lives here in Iowa. So he obviously wants to stay here.

 

I've talked about this here and here so I won't go on and on about it again. If you want the whole story please click on the links.

 

It just seems like the longer I'm here the more I want to get back to NC. Rayce just really doesn't want to move. So I'm battling with the decision of staying here in Iowa with Rayce, hating everything except my relationship. Or moving to NC most likely without Rayce. It makes me physically sick to think about not being with him. I hate thinking about it, but I'm just so unhappy here. I don't know what to do. I feel like no matter what I do I won't ever be completely happy.

 

I wish someone could just tell me what the right thing to do is. It eats at me every single day. It's scary.
 

The one where I go on adventures!

Wednesday, September 4: If you could take three months off from your current life and do anything in the world, what would you do? (bonus points for fun photos from Pinterest, but don't forget to cite the source!)

 

This is a hard one. By doing anything in the world...I'm assuming I will have unlimited funds. Otherwise I will sit in my house for 3 months not doing anything fun. Cause I'm poor. Yay.

 

So I have two ideas. I spose I could squeeze them both in three months. The first is to road trip across the US with Rayce.
 

 

 

This is something I've always wanted to do and I think it would be fun to do with the person you love the most! And I already know we wouldn't get sick of each other because well, we haven't ever. I would want to drive along the coast of California to Texas to New York to Maine to Florida. All of it. Stopping when and where we want.

 

The second thing is to go to Europe with my mom. We would fly everywhere  and stay in nice places because I'm not all about backpacking and all that shiz. I just want to see Europe. I don't really have anywhere that I specifically want to go. Just everywhere.

Italy

 

 Greece

 

Ireland

 

Spain

 

Croatia (is Croatia in Europe...?)

 

We probably would get sick of each other...but we'd get over it quickly and move right along on our adventure!